Part 11 (1/2)
”But you're not going to, not to-day. I'm giving you that order,”--with resolution. ”I wouldn't want you to be hurt, ma'am. I--”
He checked himself, realizing that he had become very earnest and that she was looking straight into his eyes, reading the concern that was there.
There was talk of that ride in the bunkhouse when the men came in.
Jimmy Oliver had seen from a distance and asked Beck for the story. He related the incident rather lightly and ended:
”Tried to keep her off him, but only got orders to take orders. If she breaks her neck tryin' some such tricks, I wouldn't be surprised.”
”She appears to have sand, though,” Oliver commented, as though he were making a concession.
Others had opinions to pa.s.s, briefly, to the point. Those men were not given to accepting readily a stranger and this stranger, being a woman, came to them under an added handicap. Where a man, inept and showing the same courage, might have found himself quietly accepted, Jane's attempt at riding was not received with noticeable warmth. The performance was in her favor, and that was about all that could be said.
A close observer might have noticed that Tom Beck gave attention whenever another spoke of their new boss, as though deeply interested in what the men had to say. Yet when he spoke of her, his manner was rather disparaging.
Mail had come in that afternoon and, a happening without precedent, there were two letters for Two-Bits. The man, who could not write and whose reading was limited to brands, never received mail and before he arrived there was speculation as to the writer of the one letter. Of the other there was no mystery because each man of the outfit had received a similar envelope containing a circular letter from a boot manufacturer.
Two-Bits arrived late, riding slowly toward the corral with his eyes on the ranch house for a possible look at his fair employer.
”Mail for you, Two-Bits,” Curtis remarked casually as he entered.
The others concealed their interest while Beck handed the letters to Two-Bits, who stood eyeing them gravely, striving to cover his surprise. This could not be done, though, for his agitated Adam's apple gave him away as he stood with a letter in each hand, looking from one to the other.
”I'll bet two-bits somebody's dead,” he said with concern, then walked to the window under a growing sense of importance at his deluge of correspondence.
He opened the letter which they knew contained the solicitation of the maker of boots and all watched him as he stood scowling at it for minutes. He folded the sheet with a sigh and stuffed it, with the other letter, into his _chap_ pocket and walked thoughtfully to his bunk, sitting down heavily, elbows on his knees. He shook his head sorrowfully and made a depreciatory clicking with his tongue.
”Boys, I always knowed that girl'd turn out a bad one! It's awful....
An' her mother a lady!”
For a moment their restraint held and then their laughter cut loose with a roar. Curtis fell face down on his bunk and laughed until his entire length shook. Jimmy Oliver gasped for breath, hands across his stomach, and the others reeled about the floor or leaned against the walls, weak with mirth.
”It ain't nothin' to laugh at!” Two-Bits protested, but when he failed to convince them of the gravity he shammed, he rose and permitted an abashed grin to distort his freckled face, muttered something about feeding his horse and walked out.
It was Sat.u.r.day evening in a season of light work and the social diversions of Ute Crossing had called HC riders. Hepburn departed early and after their horses had eaten Beck and Two-Bits rode out of the ranch townward bound. Out of sight of the building Two-Bits said:
”Tom, my eyes ain't very good. I'd like to get you to read this here other letter for me.”
Beck knew that such confidence was high compliment for Two-Bits was sensitive over his educational shortcomings, so he took the letter and, after glancing down the single page, said:
”This is from the Reverend Azariah Beal.”
”Oh, my gos.h.!.+ That's my brother! What's the matter with him, Tom?”
The other read as follows:
My dear Brother:--G.o.d willing, I shall visit you. I have often been impelled to renew our fraternal relations.h.i.+ps but my various charges have demanded my sole attention. Now, however, I am on a brief sojourn in the marts of trade and my interests call me in your direction. I expect to arrive shortly after you receive this. May the Almighty guard and bless thee and keep thee safe until our hands meet in the clasp of brotherly love.
”Oh, my gos.h.!.+” cried Two-Bits again, Adam's apple leaping and his gray eyes, usually so mild, alight with enthusiasm. ”He's comin' to visit me. Gosh, Tom, but he's a smart man! Ain't that elegant language? Say, he's the smartest man in our family an' he's comin' clean from Texas to see me.”